Ann Occup Environ Med.  2016 ;28(1):68. 10.1186/s40557-016-0154-8.

Environmental health centers for asbestos and their health impact surveys and activities

• Kang DM
• Kim JE
• Lee YJ
• Lee HH
• Lee CY
• Moon SJ
• Kang MS

• KMID: 2370948
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.1186/s40557-016-0154-8

Abstract

In 2009, Korea banned the import, transport, and use of asbestos, and the Asbestos Injury Relief Act (AIRA) was promulgated in 2011. Two environmental health centers for asbestos (EHCA), including Pusan National University Yangsan Hospital (PNUYH) and SoonChunHyang University Cheonan Hospital (SCHUCH), were adapted to find environmental asbestos-related diseases (ARDs) and to support the purposes of AIRA. EHCA conducted a health impact survey (HIS) on persons who resided or reside near asbestos factories or mines. A total of 13,433 persons have taken screening examinations in PNUYH EHCA, and 623 persons (4.6%) have had secondary examinations. Of the 21,014 persons who had screening examinations in SCHUCH EHCA, 2490 persons (11.8%) had secondary examinations. Some of those who tested positive for ARDs through HISs filed applications for the asbestos victims' medical pocketbook (AVMP). Approximately 116 and 612 persons received AVMPs as a result of PNUYH and SCHUCH examinees, respectively. EHCAs have conducted HISs, public relations, and education for asbestos victims, ordinary citizens, and physicians. As HISs are based on voluntary participation, they does not monitor high-risk groups. Active surveillance focusing on high-risk groups has been blocked by the personal information protection act. Although important work has been performed in finding environmental asbestos victims and increasing public awareness on asbestos, it is necessary to improve the current system and registration.

Keyword

Keywords; Asbestos; Relief; Act; Environmental; Impact; Lung cancer; Mesothelioma; Awareness; Compensation

MeSH Terms

Asbestos*
Busan
Chungcheongnam-do
Compensation and Redress
Computer Security
Education
Environmental Health*
Gyeongsangnam-do
Humans
Korea
Lung Neoplasms
Mass Screening
Mesothelioma
Public Relations
Asbestos